Need help with advice cutting a tubular key... its an odd 1

[JackNco]

OK this is kind of an odd question so try and bear with me. ive been playing with a couple of tubular locks and thinking of ways to pick them.

Basically ive been trying to think of a cheap alternative to the over priced tubular picks. what I need for my idea is a tubular key cut with very deep cuts. ideally all the way up the key but if not at least 50% up the body of the key.

Yes I already know i could have it cut out with a mill and want to avoid hand grinding with a file or dremel as i want to keep it cheap so i can make a how to guide and need to keep it smooth so the wire on it slides easy.

So im asking if anyone knows if any key cutter can cut that high on a tubular cutter even if the key needs to be moved and cut more than once.

Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance

John

[Jow]

Are you using the cut key just for the tension? Because if you are you can wedge a wrench into the slot part to apply tension. The problem with this technique is that you have to re-pick the lock a few times as it opens and keeps re setting in new pin stacks.

Hope that helps.

[JackNco]

nope i can apply tensions with 2 SO picks, they fit pretty snug a well. im thinking of a cheap version of the pick. thats why it needs to be smooth.

Basically if i can found a machine that can cut all the way down i want to try different materials and see if i can find one that will make an impression of the key against blunt pins. ATM im thinking tightly warped electrical tape with the sticky side facing out.

[TOWCH]

If you check out the epoxy impressioning video on barry's blog, the locksmith uses a dremel tip that might work well for what you want to do.

[JackNco]

cheers but as i say ide like to avoid dremels as its hard to get a very smooth surface. im really after info on how far back different machines can cut. then i can get keys cut and try and work around that.

[TOWCH]

K. I'd check out the video anyway, cause I think it should leave a pretty smooth finish and do what you need.

[JackNco]

if its the one impresioning the laser cut key on black bag ive seen it

[JackNco]

sorry that sounded a bit short. i appreciate it but ide prefer to put the work in researching and make a good guide at the end that is easier to make for other users than make a complicated guide that takes hours for users to make.

[TOWCH]

Nah, only fair. I read back over my post and it was similarly short. Sorry I can't help with the key machine thing. Have never used one. :oops: Good luck with the project. It'll be cool to finally have a good, cheap solution for tubular locks.

[JackNco]

cheers, and yep thats what im going for, there really int a good one so far that ive seen.

[raimundo]

perhaps there is an ace key machine that would cut quite deep if some of the stops were removed, but rethink your idea, you only want those round grooves in the pin depth area, behind that, you want grooves that fit the sliders, and have sharp edges that hold them accurately in position. if the round sided grooves were used all the way, there would be a stability problem of sliders coming up the sloped edges and out of the grooves, I have made ace picks from ace keys and I do know about this problem, its not just theory.

[Shrub]

The project you speak of has been undertaken by just about most people like minded, some with success or apparent success (see the threads on the you tube vids of someone useing one), the one i made didnt work but i only did it to see if it would and prove that video wrong,

Your much better making a proper one but without tools im a bit lost as to how to advice you do that without telling you to join your local model engineers club and as well as learning how to use metal work machines you also get to make whatever and as many picks as you like for a small annual fee to be in the club,

Try the idea first and to do that i suggest you use your dremmel or a file, the only key machine you would get away with doing that on is a laser machine but the cut will be too wide for you, cutting this on things like mortice blades etc will only damage the cutting edge of the blades,

Do it by hand, its only 7 or 8 slots and they are straight through to depth cuts from an edge so a file would be my first choice,

I warn you, check out how your tensioning it properly first and i also think the blanks are too weak to use for a tool

[linty]

my machine, (silca crown) won't cut more than about 3/8" down the key even with nothing in the copy jaw. you might be stuck just filing one.

[JackNco]

thanks for all the replies.

Ive rang round a few places and all the local places can only cut short cuts as well. Ive not that i have lack of tools i have a dremel copy but i really dont like using it. guess ill be getting some keys cut to 8s all the way round and hand filing them down then sanding the groves down. i have a few ideas about getting tension right so i guess ill have a play and post the results when its done.

All the best